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“Fine. But she’ll come over tomorrow.”

“We’ll see.” Alexander walks away, effectively ending the conversation.

“I don’t think your husband likes me.” I frown.

She smirks. “He always looks like that. It’s not you.”

“It’s me.” I look to Lev. “I don’t have anything, so we can go if you’re ready, I guess.”

He gives a nod. “My car is ready.”

After giving Megan a hug goodbye, I follow the dark and silent man down the same corridor Rurik had taken when we arrived. I give a quick glance at the skull as we pass it, still getting a weird vibe from it.

“Where’s Rurik? If he was all right, he’d call me. So, tell me where he is,” I insist when the silence in the car tears my nerves in two.

Lev side-eyes me as he continues driving toward Rurik’s building. We’re only a few minutes away.

“Is he hurt?” I ask when he still says nothing.

“Max is one of Rurik’s men, he’s waiting for you in front of the building. He’ll take you up to the penthouse and stay with you.”

Looking out the window, I see a man standing at the curb in front of Rurik’s building. His hands are folded in front of himself, looking every bit like a secret service member, only twice the size of any officer I’ve ever seen on TV.

“I can trust Max?” Maybe I should have insisted on staying with Megan.

I don’t know these men. They work with Rurik, sure, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t betray him if the price was right.

After all, they’re just men.

“Yes.” Lev pulls up to the man, who immediately reaches for my door.

“And I can trust you?”

“Alexander wouldn’t put you in danger. It would hurt his wife too much to see you harmed. You’re safe with the Volkov family.”

“You’re not a member of the Volkov family, though,” I point out.

A touch of a smile pulls on his lips. “Close enough. It’s late, and I have somewhere to be. Max will take you up.”

“And Rurik? You didn’t tell me where he was.”

His jaw clenches. Good. He’s finally realizing I’m not moving until I know what the hell is going on.

“Rurik had some trouble. But he can handle himself.”

“Is he okay?”

“Go inside, Mira.” He jerks his chin.

I climb out of the car. “You didn’t answer me. Is he okay?”

Max shuts the door, and Lev drives off.

“Are you going to tell me? Seriously, you guys are driving me crazy!” I poke Max’s arm.

He looks at the spot as though I stabbed him with a knife instead of my finger.

The elevator-ride up to the penthouse in Rurik’s private elevator is filled with the thick air of tension. Max won’t answer me, and I’m beginning to think they’re doing this on purpose.